The Los Angeles Dodgers narrowly averted a worst-case state of affairs on Sunday after star first baseman Freddie Freeman exited the collection finale towards the Milwaukee Brewers with a left wrist damage. Freeman was hit by an 88-mph sinker from Jose Quintana within the backside of the sixth inning and instantly took himself out of the sport, strolling straight towards the dugout with out ready for medical workers. His response raised severe concern, particularly for a participant identified for grinding by way of ache.
“He simply doesn’t come out of video games,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “I didn’t know why he was strolling towards me. Then listening to him say it was his wrist and he couldn’t proceed — yeah, actually nervous. And usually it’s the opposite means round.”
Fortuitously for Los Angeles, postgame X-rays got here again unfavourable, revealing solely a contusion. Roberts confirmed that Freeman is taken into account day-to-day.
“That one, I held my breath. I believe all of us did,” Roberts stated. “Once you’re scuffling, and to probably lose a man for 4 to 6 weeks, it’s clearly very scary. However exhale, sigh of aid after listening to that it was unfavourable. We dodged a bullet there.”
Dodgers get excellent news relating to Freddie Freeman’s wrist
Nonetheless, the timing couldn’t be worse for the defending World Sequence champs. The Dodgers had been swept at dwelling by the Brewers and have now misplaced 10 of their final 12 video games — six of these to Milwaukee alone. Sunday’s 6-5 loss capped a season sweep by the Brewers, who grew to become simply the third workforce within the final 30 years to go undefeated towards L.A. in a season collection of no less than 5 video games.
Even with Freeman in a chronic droop — batting simply .188 since June 19 with one homer and 29 strikeouts — he stays an important piece of the Dodgers’ offensive id. His season numbers (.292/.836 OPS, 10 dwelling runs, 49 RBIs) earned him a beginning nod on this yr’s All-Star Sport, and his presence within the lineup affords a stabilizing pressure.
Ought to Freeman miss time, Roberts stated the workforce will look to rookie catcher Dalton Dashing and veteran infielder Miguel Rojas to cowl first base duties. Rojas changed Freeman on Sunday and has restricted expertise at first, whereas Dashing, a left-handed bat, performed the place often in Triple-A earlier than his call-up.
Dashing is anticipated to begin at first on Monday towards the Minnesota Twins if Freeman isn’t able to go. The rookie has primarily served as backup catcher to Will Smith however might even see extra reps at first if Freeman is sidelined past just a few days.
Freeman has largely been sturdy this season apart from a short 10-day IL stint in April attributable to an ankle damage. Now, with the Dodgers attempting to fend off the surging Padres within the NL West, they’ll want Freeman again as quickly as potential — however provided that he’s wholesome. “To lose [Freeman] longer, it might have been actually robust to beat,” Roberts stated. “So yeah, we bought fortunate this time.”